Late in the spring of 2003, I joined a PBS crew to fly over publicly-owned land in central Utah and discuss its appropriate use. When we landed to refuel in Price, my cell phone came alive with messages. One was from my assistant, who indicated that the White House Office of Presidential Personnel wanted to speak with me.

Michael O. Leavitt is a member of the Deseret News Editorial Advisory Board. Leavitt served in the Cabinet of President George W. Bush and as a three-time elected governor of Utah. He is the founder and chairman of Leavitt Partners. The following is excerpted from a commencement speech delivered on April 22 at Weber State University.

Late in the spring of 2003, I joined a PBS crew to fly over publicly-owned land in central Utah and discuss its appropriate use. When we landed to refuel in Price, my cell phone came alive with messages. One was from my assistant, who indicated that the White House Office of Presidential Personnel wanted to speak with me.

I slipped into a corner, hoping to gain a bit of distance from the reporters traveling with me. The woman I spoke with explained that a member of the president's cabinet had resigned, and it was her duty to develop a list of names for him to consider. Was I willing to be considered?

I was nearing the conclusion of my 11th year as governor. I loved the job. I told her my initial reaction was negative. There were a dozen reasons it didn't make sense. "But," I said, "I'm surrounded by reporters at the moment. Could I call you later?"

The call, though short, triggered a life-changing decision process.

We all make life changing decisions. These decisions, even more than our circumstances, define the outcomes of our lives. Decision making is a defining competency that requires practice and thought. Over time I've developed and put into practice five keys to decision making.

Key One: Write a decision memo.

In a subsequent conversation with the White House, I agreed that while I was doubtful of my interest, I would at least discuss it when I was in Washington the following week. Over several days, I began to do what I almost always do when weighing important decisions or problems: I wrote myself a memo.

Writing a decision memo forces one to think clearly and honestly. It does not have to be elegant or well written. This isn't about literature; it's about seeing an entire picture, finding gaps in logic and truly understanding a choice.

Key Two: Shrink the uncertainties.

In big decisions, uncertainties create anxiety. Though one can never see the future perfectly, it is possible to reduce uncertainty and to minimize risk. As I wrote this decision memo to myself, I listed the things I could not know for sure. There were many.

What about my agenda as governor? Had I accomplished what I set out to do? Would the people of Utah feel proud or abandoned? There were obvious family considerations. Would Jackie like Washington? How would my eighth grader feel about moving? Would I like the job? Was I really ready to end my service as governor? What could I accomplish in the remaining fifteen months of the president's term? Would he be re-elected?

One at a time, I began to sort through each uncertainty and develop a working assumption of how that uncertainty would play out. The goal of this exercise was to shrink uncertainty by stating, in writing, how that uncertainty would likely unfold. Just like a puzzle becomes more clear with each adjoining piece, the future becomes more clear when you replace uncertainties with beliefs.

Key Three: Examine your bias.

Sometimes we make bad decisions because we are motivated by the wrong things. We make important decisions at times when our judgment is clouded by appetites or passions like anger, fear, ego, greed, ambition or infatuation. Depression, for example, impairs good decision making by distorting reality. Don't make major decisions in the midst of a significant emotional low. Understand and manage your biases.

Popular Comments

A beautiful and insightful editorial. I know that you are a person of a
wonderful heritage that established a foundation from which you have succeeded
so well in your life. I do think that ultimately our decisions should be guided
by something of
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7:25 a.m. May 1, 2011

Top comment

peacemaker

Provo, UT

My wife and I had the privilege of attending a reception honoring Governor
Leavitt while he served in the President's cabinet. The reception was at the
U.S. Ambassador's residence in the Communist country of Laos in 2005. He greeted
us warmly and
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